§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total cost to the Exchequer of student maintenance grants in each year
(£m Financial years) 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 Maintenance grants cash 167.2 219.2 262.5 316.2 381.7 430.2 460.1 512.9 Maintenance grants in cash terms using 1983–84 base 357 411.1 445.8 459.3 467.5 479.1 480.4 512.9 Index 1979–80=100 77.7 89.5 97.0 100.0 101.8 104.3 104.6 111.7 Total fees and maintenance cash 237.2 401.2 459.5 534 662.9 770.2 668.7 733.8 Total in cost terms (1983–84 base) 506.4 752.5 780.3 775.7 811.9 857.7 698.2 733.8 Index 1979–80=100 65.3 97.0 100.6 100.0 104.7 110.6 90.0 94.6 Comparable figures for earlier years are not readily available.